• Identity and authentication platform 1Kosmos launched its BlockID 1Key solution this week.
• BlockID 1Key is a biometric security key that provides passwordless multi-factor authentication for customer help desks, retail bank branches, and other environments deemed too sensitive to allow access to mobile devices.
• 1Kosmos won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at FinovateSpring 2023.

Blockchain-powered identity and authentication platform 1Kosmos launched its BlockID 1Key solution this week. BlockID 1Key is a biometric security key that provides passwordless multi-factor authentication for Senstive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIF). The phishing-resistant solution also works for manufacturing clean rooms, customer help desks, retail bank branches and other environments deemed too sensitive to allow access to mobile devices.

“Passwordless is extremely difficult and costly to deploy in environments such as call centers and manufacturing floors where mobile devices aren’t permitted or used,” 1Kosmos CEO Hemen Vimadalal said. “BlockID 1Key eliminates this roadblock and provides a phishing-resistant, scalable and interoperable passwordless experience for workers in dynamically assigned workspace settings – using a stationary, one-to-many FIDO-compliant key.”

BlockID 1Key enables organizations to verify identity at the initial access attempt and at every subsequent access attempt. This helps defend against attacks like phishing and vishing that exploit password vulnerabilities. The technology also secures the registered biometric to create an immutable chain of custody. Once secured, the biometric provides identity verification that is tamper-evident, and credentials that are phishing-resistant.

The technology is also suitable for workstation-independent contexts. BlockID 1Key’s register-once-use anywhere model lets users authenticate and work on any managed device. All they need is their username and a biometric fingerprint scan. The solution features support for Windows login as well, and is compatible with WebAuthn services and applications.

1Kosmos won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at FinovateSpring last year, and returned to the Finovate stage last September for FinovateFall. Headquartered in East Brunswick, New Jersey, 1Kosmos has raised $15 million in funding, according to Crunchbase. The company includes Gula Tech Adventures and Forgepoint Capital among its investors.

Photo by Alexander Grey